In professional football, success isn’t just about physical strength and speed—it’s also about strategy, adaptability, and quick decision-making. To gain an edge, many NFL players are turning to an unexpected source of mental training: chess. The classic game of strategy is helping athletes improve their cognitive skills, sharpen their ability to anticipate plays and enhance their overall performance on the field.
Key Takeaways
NFL players are using chess to enhance their strategic thinking and decision-making skills on the field.
- Chess helps NFL players improve cognitive skills, anticipate plays, and stay composed under pressure.
- BlitzChamps, a tournament by Chess.com, brings together football players for high-level chess competition with charitable purposes.
- The mental training benefits of chess are recognized as crucial for athlete development in various sports.
Chess as a mental training tool
Tennessee Titans cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is one of several NFL players who have embraced chess as a way to sharpen their mental game. He compares the game to football, noting how pre-snap formations resemble the setup of a chessboard. “Before a play starts, the pieces are set—this is the position on the chessboard,” Awuzie explained. Just as a chess player must analyze multiple moves ahead, a football player must anticipate the opponent’s strategy and react accordingly.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is also an avid chess player. In fact, he played chess matches even on the day of the Super Bowl in 2022. He keeps a chessboard in his locker and uses the game to train his mind, helping him process information quickly and make fast, strategic decisions during games. According to Awuzie, Burrow’s approach to chess reflects his ability to stay composed under pressure and think several steps ahead—both essential qualities for a top quarterback.
The surprising rise of BlitzChamps
With so many NFL players embracing chess, Chess.com created BlitzChamps, a tournament designed to bring football players together for high-level competition in the game. The event not only fuels their competitive spirit but also serves a charitable purpose, with a $30,000 prize donated to charities selected by the participants. Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid won the most recent BlitzChamps tournament, proving that elite football players can also excel on the chessboard.
BlitzChamps was developed with the help of Chess.com’s chief chess officer, Danny Rensch, and former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who has long been a chess enthusiast. Their efforts have helped highlight the increasing number of football players who use chess not just as a hobby but as a tool to refine their strategic thinking.
How chess skills translate to football
The ability to analyze positions, predict outcomes, and react quickly in chess carries over directly to football. Awuzie credits his chess training with improving his ability to recognize offensive formations and anticipate plays before they unfold. “Little things like that happen in my head at a faster pace now,” he said, explaining how the mental exercise of chess has helped him sharpen his decision-making on the field.
This growing connection between chess and professional sports isn’t limited to football. Basketball players, including NBA star Luka Dončić, have also developed a passion for the game. The skills required for chess—strategic thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability—align closely with those needed to succeed in high-level competition.
Chess as a key part of athlete development
The rising interest in chess among professional athletes highlights a growing emphasis on mental training in sports. More teams and coaches are recognizing that strategic exercises like chess help players develop patience, critical thinking, and the ability to plan—skills that go hand in hand with their physical preparation.
Beyond improving performance on the field, chess is also proving beneficial for players’ mental health. The game provides a way to step back from the constant demands of professional competition, offering a sense of calm and focus. Many athletes use it as a way to relieve stress, reset their minds, and stay mentally sharp without the pressure of physical training.
What started as a hobby for some is now becoming an important part of training for many. Chess is no longer just a game for NFL players; it’s a tool that helps them stay sharp both mentally and emotionally. As this trend continues, the blend of physical and mental conditioning could become part of an athlete mental development across all sports.
